Tropical depression: Bulldogs downgrade 'Canes

Before arriving at the College World Series, Georgia's Ryan Peisel told teammate Matt Olson that he didn't want to do anything special in his final appearance in Omaha.

When Peisel presses, more often than not, he's not too successful. He played it cool Saturday.

The senior tied the game twice, drove in four runs, including the game-clincher in seventh-ranked Georgia's 7-4 upset of No. 1 Miami in the Bulldogs' opener of the CWS at Rosenblatt Stadium.

"That's probably one of the best wins I've been a part of," said Peisel, who turned 22 on Saturday. "We've been doing it all year. It's never over until the last out's recorded with this team. For us to compete all nine innings is great. We battled the whole night."

Georgia will be the home team Monday. The Bulldogs will start senior righty Nick Montgomery.

The Bulldogs' come-from-behind victory was the second time the Bulldogs won after trailing into the final inning. What's more, Miami was 45-0 when leading after eight innings. It's now 45-1.

Throughout this week, the Bulldogs expressed that they were not going to be complacent or just happy to be in Omaha.

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They wanted to make a statement. They wanted to be the team that captured Georgia's second national title.

The Bulldogs took the first step Saturday with one of the biggest postseason wins in Georgia history.

"Our kids fought like there was no tomorrow," Georgia coach David Perno said. "We played every pitch hard. We played close to our identity and we battled hard."

It had been four years and two CWS appearances since Georgia won an Omaha opener. In 2004, the Bulldogs beat Arizona 8-7, then lost to No. 1 Texas in Game 2. Georgia eliminated Arizona in its third game and Texas eliminated Georgia in the Bulldogs' fourth game. Five Bulldogs on the current roster, including Peisel, went 0-2 in their last CWS appearance in 2006.

"For us older guys, it's a sweet redemption for us going 'Two and 'cue' the last time," Peisel said.

Trailing 4-3 in the ninth, the Bulldogs surged for four runs. Lyle Allen tied it at 4-all with an RBI single to left field. David Thoms' weakly struck comebacker to Miami's Carlos Gutierrez jolted the star closer and he wildly overthrew first base. Two runs scored and Peisel, who went 3-for-5, sealed the rally with an RBI single.

Georgia's All-American closer Joshua Fields (3-2), who entered with two outs in the eighth inning, recorded the win. He pitched 1 1/3 scoreless innings and struck out one. Georgia reliever Dean Weaver and Fields combined for 2 1/3 scoreless innings.

Miami's Gutierrez (5-4) suffered the loss and blew just his third save opportunity after pitching one inning. He allowed four runs (two earned) on three hits. He struck out two.

Yonder Alonso gave the Hurricanes a 4-3 lead with a two-out, solo shot to right-center field in the seventh. It was his 24th homer this season

"We came into the game not wanting Alonso to beat us," Perno said. "When he hit the solo home run, I was kicking myself."

Georgia, in its sixth CWS, trailed 3-1 until Peisel tied it in the sixth inning. He launched a two-run homer between the left-field foul pole and the stands near the scoreboard. Peisel, who was selected by Colorado Rockies in the 12th round of last week's draft, drove in Miles Starr, who reached on a single.

Georgia starter Trevor Holder lasted just four innings in his second CWS appearance. He gave up two home runs, a solo shot to Jemile Weeks in the first and a two-run homer to Blake Tekotte in the third. Holder allowed three runs (all earned) on four hits in his no-decision.